FEDERAL GRAND JURY RETURNS TWO INDICTMENTS

Hammond, IN—The United States Attorney's Office announced that a Special Grand Jury sitting in Hammond, Indiana, returned the following Indictments on September 5, 2007:

NOEL NEVAREZ, age 24, and RAFAEL ROSARIO, age 33, both of East Chicago, Indiana, were charged in a 3 count indictment with possession with the intent to distribute five hundred grams (500) of a substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, and possession of a substance containing a detectable amount of marijuana. Nevarez was charged in count 3 with possession of a Taurus 9mm pistol and a Ruger .22 pistol in relation to a drug crime

This case is being investigated by Immigration and Custom Enforcement. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Nozick.

VINCENT BARNETT, age 32, of Gary, Indiana, having been convicted in Cook, County, Illinois with Attempted Residential Burglary, was charged with being a felon in possession of a Beretta, Model 92FS, 9 millimeter, semi-automatic pistol, loaded with fifteen rounds of nine millimeter ammunition. In a forfeiture allegation, Barnett will forfeit the gun and ammunition upon conviction.

This case is being investigated by the ATF/HIDTA Task force. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean R. Lanter.

The specific sentence in each case to be imposed upon conviction will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that these indictments are merely allegations and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

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